Colorado Springs--The Colorado SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology contest, held at Pikes Peak Community College on April 11, started this year's event with Gregory A. Romer, American Honda Motor Co.'s parts and service zone manager, serving as the new chairman of the event.
Long-time chairman Scott Rill, technical service manager for Burt Toyota Scion in Englewood, relinquished the chair due to increased job responsibilities. Rill will continue with the automotive contest by serving in an advisory and support capacity.
Ben Nesbitt, technical and industrial program director for Career and Technical Education at the Colorado Community College System, said before the event that 26 secondary and 24 postsecondary students were signed up to take the traditional written test.
"The hands-on skill testing had slots available for 24 secondary and 12 postsecondary students," he said. "The first- and second-place district contest winners were guaranteed a slot on the hands-on portion of the contest that began at 7 a.m. on Friday," Nesbitt said. After taking the written test, 22 secondary and 12 postsecondary students qualified for the hands-on tests.
Test categories for the secondary students included navigating electronic shop manuals, electrical system diagnosis, HVAC testing, brake service, manual transmission evaluation, wiring harness repair, automatic transmission diagnosis, engine performance, environmental health and safety, and emissions sensors and actuators.
Post-secondary tests included electronic manuals environmental health and safety, HVAC diagnosis, engine performance diagnosis, front differential repair, automatic transmission testing, component identification, antilock brake diagnostics, wiring harness diagnostics, voltage drop diagnosis, and alignment, steering, and suspension diagnosis.
Laura Shuey, an instructor for American Honda Motor Co. who is in her fourth year of judging the SkillsUSA contest, tested students' ability to diagnose a Honda anti-lock braking system (ABS) failure that is networked with a stability control system by using information from a Honda wiring schematic and scan tool.
"Most students didn't do very well on the test, so I hope they will help improve their programs by providing feedback to their instructors," Shuey said.
Sarah Powell, who judged the wiring repair test for secondary students, has experienced the Colorado SkillsUSA contest full circle by competing in the Jerry Boor contest in 2004 when she was attending Arapahoe Community College. After spending one year as a lot attendant at Infiniti of Denver, Powell moved on to be a full-time technician at Ralph Schomp Automotive. The 2008 SkillsUSA contest was the first in which she served as a contest judge.
The top three finishers in the secondary division are: first, Theron Diog, Pikes Peak Community College; second, David Knight, Warren Tech; and third, Nick Poer, Arapahoe/Douglas Career & Tech School. Post-secondary place winners are: first, Jeffrey Schreiner, Arapahoe Community College; second, Marcus Salas, Arapahoe Community College; and third, Eric Thorton, Pueblo Community College.
The mechanical contest continues to draw good industry support.
"About 75 percent of the contest judges have returned this year," said Robert Sidebottom, area manager for Colorado's Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) program and test administrator for the Colorado SkillsUSA contest. Forty-one people from education and industry were on hand to administer, judge, and compile test results for the contest.
The Colorado Automotive Teacher's Society donated backpacks filled with industry giveaways to all contestants. Prizes were donated by Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Automotive Teachers Society, Equipment Solutions, Matco Tools, and Snap-on Industrial Tools.
Secondary schools competing in the Automotive Service Technology tests include Arapahoe/Douglas Career and Technical School, Bollman Occupational Center, Boulder Tech Educational Center, Doherty High School, Montrose High School, Northeastern Junior College, Pikes Peak Community College, Rifle High School, Roaring Fork Career Center, and Warren Occupational Tech Center.
Postsecondary schools include Arapahoe Community College, Morgan Community College, Pickens Technical College, Pueblo Community College, Warren Occupational Tech Center, and Western Colorado Community College.